Knockdown shelving



May 4, 1954 CATALANO 2,677,470

KNOCKDOWN SHELVING Filed Jan. 22, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l AL'S ,V @fg/W ym May 4, 1954 J. CATALANO xNocKnowN sHELvING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 22, 1949 Patented May 4, 1954 UNITED STATES PTENT OFFICE KNOCKDOWN SHELVING Joseph Catalano, Chicago, Ill.

Application January 22, 1949, Serial No. 72,200

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a device adapted for use as a cart having trays, or a table having a fiat surface.

In the use of previously known carts, it was often desired to use them for containing articles, such as tools, and use them as tables; if they were in the shape of trays, it was virtually impossible to use them as tables, and if they were provided with smooth tops so as to be capable for use as tables, the articles would easily fall or be knocked o.

An object therefore of the present invention, is the provision of a device which is readily convertible from a cart having trays, to a table, and vice versa.

More speciiically, it is an object to provide a device having a top element which is invertible, and in one position, forms a tray, and in another position, forms a smooth surface table top.

Another object is the provision of a device having a plurality of decks, each of which is invertible, and each forming a tray in one position, and a smooth surface table top in another position.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a cart or table having a plurality of leg elements, and a plurality of deck or shelf elements, all of which are demountably assembled and can be knocked down and the deck or shelf elements fitted together in a compact container, and the leg elements can be iitted in the container.

A further object is the provision of a cart or table having a plurality of leg elements and a plurality of deck or shelf elements demountably assembled together, having novel and simple means for assembling the elements.

A still further object is the provision of a device of the character referred to, which is made of simple parts and results in an economical artiele.

Another object is the provision of a combination cart and table which can be disassembled and utilized as a tool box.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my device whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in the claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of the device of the present invention in the form of a cart;

Figure 2 is an isometric View of the device in the form of a table or bench;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 1 -l of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a detail view of the inner surface of one of the legs;

Figure 6 is a plan view of one corner of the device taken on line 6-6 of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on line lL-l of Figure 3; and

Figure 8 is a view of the device folded into a container and having a portion broken away.

Referring in detail to the drawings, Figure l illustrates the device as a whole and is indicated generally by the reference numeral l2. The device includes a plurality of leg elements i4, all of which are identical and one of which is shown in enlarged detail in Figure 5. The remaining main elements of the device are a top shelf element it and a lower shelf element i8. The ieg elements and the two shelf elements are all demountable and separable from one another, as will be apparent as 'the description of the device proceeds.

Referring to Figure 5, each leg element ii includes an angle bar 20, which may be of stock material. The length of the bar is determined by the size of the iinished article. The leg element i4 in Figure 5 is disposed in upright position, as assumed in the final article. A stop member 22 in the form of a short angle piece is disposed adjacent the top of the leg element on the inner or concave surface thereof. The stop member 22 being of angle shape is iitted with its legs abutting the respective legs of the angle forming the angle bar 2i), The stop means 22 is then welded to the leg element or secured by appropriate means.

Below the stop means 22 is a supporting pin Zei. The pin 2t may be of stock rod material and is fitted in the concave or inner side of the leg element. The lower end of the supporting pin 2.1i is welded, as indicated at 26, to the leg element, and the upper end of the pin is free of securement to the leg element. The upper end of the supporting pin may be tapered, or it may be spread away from the leg element in order to provide space between itself and the leg element.

The top shelf element It is in the form of an open sided box or pan, and includes a plane surface 28 and perimeter walls 3D, Secured to the perimeter walls 3e at each corner of the shelf element i5 is an angle bracket 32. The angle bracket 32 has right angle legs, preferably having turned in portions 34 which contact the periineter walls 30 so as to form a space between the angle bracket and the perimeter walls. The bracket 32 is then welded, as indicated at 36, to the perimeter walls. lf preferred, the turned in portions be omitted and the bracket secured by welding in such manner as to space the bracket from the perimeter walls. The spacing of the bracket from the perimeter walls leaves a slot 38 which is, of course, of angular shape and the slot is open at both top and bottom.

The lower shelf element i8 is also in the form of an open sided box or pan, and includes a plane surface it and perimeter walls 42. Preferably, the perimeter walls are of slightly greater depth than the perimeter Walls 33 for a purpose that will appear later.

The plane surface it or the bottom of the pan forming the lower shelf element I8 is Provided with a hole ttl at each of its corners closely adjacent the perimeter walls.

The numeral fic indicates loops or rings secured to two of the angle brackets 32. A carrying strap may be secured to these loops for carrying the device, as will oe referred to later.

Use of the device The leg elements lil are disposed in upright position, as shown in Figure l, in the nal completed article; but in the assembling of the device, the top shelf element may be set on the iioor with its open face down. The upper ends of the leg elements are then inserted in the angular slots 3S. rEhe fit of the leg elements in the slots is such that in normal use of the device they are not readily dislodged therefrom. The top shelf element and the leg elements thus assemled are turned upright and rest on the leg element. The lower shelf element is then inserted in place by inserting the upper ends of the supporting pins Ed in the holes lid, which are formed in the plane surface di?. Thus, the device is assembled in the condition illustrated in Figure l, and it will be seen that the top shelf element I6 and the lower shelf element i are both disposed with their open sides upwardly, forming trays.

The leg element i-i may be provided with wheels or casters, and it is deemed unnecessary to illustrate this detail. rlhe wheels or casters impart ease of mobility to the device, but of course they are not necessary. casters, the device may be considered a cart With the shelf elements it and i8 disposed with their open sides upwardly, tools may be set on the shelf elements ready for use by a workman. The tools do not readily fall off of the shelf elements due to the fact that the shelf elements in the position shown in Figure l are in the form of trays.

if it is desired to use the device as a table or bench, the shelf elements can be inverted. As stated above, the slots t8 are open at both top and bottom and the top shelf element i6 is inverted and the leg elements inserted from the bottoni. Thus, the top shelf element l is disposed with its open side facing downwardly, leaving a smooth top forming a table or bench.

-ilarly, lower shelf element i3 can be inverted and inserted in place, as described above, so that this shelf element also is disposed with its open side facing downwardly and forming a smooth top shelf or deck.

ln the case of Figure 2, it will be noted that the supporting pins 2li do not extend through the holes dit. The depth of the perimeter walls 42 is such that they rest on the lower portion of the supporting pins 24, and extend upwardly Even without the wheels or above the top of the supporting pins. Itis, therefore, not necessary to have the pins extend through the holes in this instance.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate in detail the manner in which the leg elements and shelf elements are connected together. The stop means 33 limit the entent to which the leg elements can be inserted into the slots 38, and it might be stated that when the article is in upright position, the stop means 22 acts as a supporting mea-ns for supporting the upper shelf element i6. The same is true in connection with the supporting pins 24 and the lower shelf element I8.

yThe lower shelf IS is of such size that it can be fitted in to the upper shelf element I8, as illustrated in Figure 8; and the size of the two shelf elements with respect to the leg elements is such that the leg elements can be tted in the two shelf elements when the latter are fitted together. Thus, the two shelf elements when f1tted together form a closed container in compact form, which can be handled and shipped conveniently.

might also be pointed out that the container formed oy the two shelf elements, as illustrated in Figure 8, can be utilized as a tool box. For this purpose the loops 46 can be utilized for securing a carrying strap. Conventional latch or loci-:ing means may also be employed for retainthe two shelf elements in assembled relation.

Some changes may be made in the construction arrangement of the parts of my device without departing from the real spirit and purpose my inver. -on, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or of mechanical equivalents which may be in bly included within their scope without sacng any of the advantages thereof.

i claim as my invention:

l. ln a multiple shelf knock-down table construction wherein two of the shelf elements are adapted to be nested together in opposite facing position to form a closed container adapted to contain the leg elements of the table therein, the combination comprising a plura Aty of leg elements, an upper shelf in the form of an open borf having a plane surface and perimeter walls, means securing said upper shelf to the leg elements with the leg elements located exteriorly of the perimeter walls of said upper shelf, the interior surface of the perimeter walls of said upper shelf being unobstructed therealong, a lower shelf in the form of an open box, the plan form of the upper and lower shelves being substantially similar, said lower shelf having a plane surface and perimeter walls corresponding to the perimeter walls of the upper shelf, the length of the outer surface of cach perimeter wall of the lower shelf being slightly smaller than the length of the inner surface of the corresponding perimeter wall of the upper shelf, and said lower shelf having means located interiorly of the outer surface of its perimeter walls adapted to be operatively associated with said leg elements to support said lower shelf on said leg elements, the outer surface of the perimeter walls of said lower shelf being unobstructed therealong, whereby the lower shelf element is adapted to be nested in the upper shelf element in opposite facing position to form a closed container with corresponding perimeter walls lying immediately adjacent each other.

2. In an article of the character described, the combination comprising a plurality of leg elements, an upper shelf, a lower shelf, both shelves having substantially similar plan form, the outer perimeter dimensions of the lower shelf being slightly smaller than the inner perimeter dimensions of the upper shelf, the outer perimeter of the lower shelf and the inner perimeter of the upper shelf being unobstructed along their length, whereby the lower shelf may be nested within the upper shelf with the edge walls of said shelves immediately adjacent each other, means on the upper shelf for mounting said upper shelf on the leg elements with the leg elements located exteriorly of the edge walls of said upper shelf, and means on said leg elements adapted to engage said lower shelf at points interiorly of the outer perimeter of said lower shelf, for supporting said lower shelf on said leg elements.

References Cited in the le of this patent Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Monfort Nov. 26, 1901 Senge Jan. 24, 1911 Lampert Sept. 8, 1914 Erickson Aug. 2, 1921 Harvey Feb. 13, 1923 OC'Onllor July 7, 1925 Reynolds Nov. 19, 1929 Bales Sept. 23, 1941 Prothro Feb, 17, 1948 

